As Sera untangles the secrets behind the painting, she finds

beauty in the most unlikely of places: in the grim camps of Auschwitz and in

the inner recesses of her own troubled heart.

"In her historical series debut, Cambron expertly weaves together multiple plotlines, time lines, and perspectives to produce a poignant tale of the power of love and faith in difficult circumstances. Those interested in stories of survival and the Holocaust, such as Eli Weisel’sNight, will want to read." —Library Journal, starred review

Kristy Cambron’s story keeps echoing obstinately in
my mind. The double layering of two
stories at once is done with artistic brush strokes of description that
challenges other fine writers with her expertise and talent. This is Ms. Cambron’s debut novel,
excellently done is a contemporary and a historical romance dealing with two
women with two very different stories involving one lost painting.

Manhattan art dealer, Sera James, excitedly enters
the gallery she owns with great anticipation that the painting that just
arrived is THE ONE she has been searching for – the one that haunted her since
a child of eight seeing it in a Paris art gallery. Her assistant Penny explains that an instant
response to her ad had been made by a mysterious businessman – a financier in
real estate named William Hanover III who was liquidating his late
grandfather’s estate. HOWEVER - he won’t
sell the painting, but will pay an exorbitant fee to hire Sera and her gallery to
help him look for the original painting.
Sera is soon flying to San Francisco at Mr. Hanover’s expense.

December 1942, Vienna, Austria. Adele Von Bron, daughter of a high-ranking
member of the Third Reich and whose mother is a concert pianist; is currently known
as “Austria’s Sweetheart” as a violinist with Vienna’s Philharmonic. Vladimir Nicolai, Adele’s romantic interest
is a cellist with the Philharmonic, involved secretly in smuggling Jews to
Switzerland. Adele has enmeshed herself
for the first time in the rescue of The Haurbech family, which failed
tragically. All of the Haurbech family
except Sophie were shot and killed.
Adele is presently in her family doctor’s office in shock because her
hands were badly cut by glass she had fallen on when she and Vladimir
scattered. Not knowing Vladimir’s or
Sophie’s whereabouts, she told the doctor about the rescue attempt and
shuddered over what might have happened if they were discovered by the
Gestapo. “This is not Austria, you
know. What we’ve become? This is not
God’s path.” The doctor replied. Danger lurked everywhere. Adele was scheduled for a solo performance
the next evening and was concerned about being able to perform with her injured
hands. The doctor bandaged them and kept
her safe that night.

Sera stood looking at the large estate and noticed a
large white tent being constructed and a van sat to the side where workers were
unloading candelabras and flowers, preparing for a big event. She questioned aloud “Just what in the world
do you do, Mr.Hanover?” “He was in real estate.”
replied a man that walked up behind her – who she assumed was the gardener. She learned that a wedding was to take place. Sera had been left at the alter three years
before and still had not recovered from the emotional scars. Thereafter she met
William Hanover the Third; only to find out he was the gardener. He was not prepared to discuss the painting
until his sister’s wedding was over.
Sera decided that a small nervous breakdown was in the making for her,
but finally resolved that issue when William Hanover displayed kindness and
interest in her during the wedding reception.
Oh, and he called Sera “Manhattan” – his endearing name for her.

The only thing our four protagonists had in common
is their Christianity. Each agonized from
complex issues of their own. In 1942 I
was only 4 years old, but I can relate to the reality in some ways that others
might not. Kristy Cambron delved into WW
II history and brought out the unbelievable ugliness of what Adele suffered in
Auschwitz. How can any one of us relate
to being branded traitors by the Gestapo?
Vladimir’s soft and lovely nickname for Adele “Butterfly” suggests how
he saw her. Omara painted her as she
knew her in the concentration camp.
Adele’s only saving grace was her talent as a violinist in the Auschwitz
orchestra that played for the SS Officers.
Although Sera’s story was important to Adele’s – I would have read this
book on Adele’s nightmarish story as a stand-alone. It
seemed an interruption when the chapters changed from modern day to WW II
unbearable Holocaust. Ms. Cambron’s
research revealed more than 1600 pieces of art discovered in the ruins of
Auschwitz and brought to my mind the recent movie of The Monument Men. Music and art cannot be erased from world
culture – although some will try. It is
part of our will to survive.

There is so much more that could be said about this
incredible book. Your questions will be
answered in the coming revealing chapters.
But I have taken liberties already and must save the uniqueness of what
Ms. Cambron has accomplished for your own discovery. Seventy-five reviews alone have been published on Amazon,
and I am sure that will not be the last of them. So, I leave it to you – go get this book for
yourself….NOW! You will recognize this
book by its beautiful cover. Respectful
congratulations, Ms. Kristy Cambron. We
look forward to your next publication. God
most certainly plans something special for your exceptional talent.

In
exchange for my review, I received a free copy of the book through Litfuse
Publicity Group.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR......KRISTY CAMBRON.......

I’ve been taken with the WWII Era since I was a young girl.My grandfather was a B-17 co-pilot in the war and I remember the stories he’d so often tell. Years later, I came across the lost art of Auschwitz while studying for my undergraduate degree in Art History. I didn’t know if then, but more than a decade later, God would remind me of the heart of this book. In the wee hours of the morning in early 2013, it came alive once again.

I write WWII and Regency Era Christian fiction titles, placing first in the 2013 NTRWA Great Expectations and 2012 FCRW Beacon contests (Inspirational Categories)! One of those stories (which I hope will make it to bookstore shelves one day!) also became a Finalist in the 2013 Laurie contest. I’ve been a contributing author on RegencyReflections.com since 2012, and still post there with my Regency friends from time to time.

A SPARROW IN TEREZIN (Hidden Masterpiece #2) will release in April, 2015.

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BARB'S FOLLOWERS

Chasing Lilacs was the first book I won on a giveaway. I was thrilled with the story. Lilacs are my favorite flower, that stems from childhood where we had a large tall lilac tree in our yard. I also began singing when I was a child and one of the songs I sang was about a little boy and a little girl. The little boy asked the little girl for a kiss and she said she would never let him kiss her unless apples grew upon the lilac tree. By the end of the song....the last line was about the little girl tying apples on a lilac tree. Cute and very appropriate.

Carla's story was well written and I enjoyed it very much. Perhaps it's time for me to read it again!